The Superpower of Seeing What Others Can't
OPENING PRAYER:
God, open my eyes to see the potential You've placed in the people around me. Give me the courage to call out gifts they don't yet see in themselves, and the humility to receive that same encouragement from others.
"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)
God sent Samuel to anoint Israel's next king from among Jesse's sons. Samuel was impressed by the oldest son's appearance and assumed he was God's choice. But God corrected Samuel's vision—He sees what humans can't see. This same principle applies when God looks at us: He sees not just who we are, but who we're becoming and what He's placed inside us.
REFLECT:
When Pastor Rodney Elliott took the stage after the announcement that he would become the next lead pastor, he did something that revealed the kind of leader he is. Before talking about himself or the future, he honored Todd. And in doing so, he identified what he called Todd's "superpower": "He sees something inside of you that you can't see for yourself. And then he encourages you and calls it out and gives you the confidence."
This isn't a small thing. Rodney said the only reason he left the family farm and stepped into ministry was because Todd had already begun calling something out of him that he couldn't see in himself. Think about that. If Todd hadn't seen potential in a rough-around-the-edges farm kid who showed up at a young marrieds Sunday school class, Pathway wouldn't have a next lead pastor. The Goddard campus wouldn't have had its founding pastor. Hundreds of people who have came to faith under Rodney's ministry would never have heard the gospel from him. All because one leader took the time to see past the exterior and call out what God had placed inside someone.
This is the ministry every single believer is called to, not just pastors. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 to "encourage one another and build each other up." The Greek word for "encourage" literally means to "call to one's side"—to come alongside someone and speak strength into them. When the Todd asked, "What's your personal assignment?" one of the examples he gave was "reaching out to encourage someone whose potential you see." That's not an optional spiritual gift for a select few—that's part of the assignment Jesus gave all of us. We're supposed to be a community of people who see what God has placed in each other and have the courage to name it, even when the person can't see it themselves yet. Who knows what God might do through someone simply because you took the time to see them the way God sees them and tell them what you see?
APPLY:
Identify one person in your life—a co-worker, family member, someone at church, a young person—in whom you see potential or gifting they may not recognize in themselves yet. This week, have a conversation with them. Tell them specifically what you see: "I see leadership in you." "I see compassion." "I see someone who could teach." "I see faithfulness." Be specific. Be sincere. Then pray with them and ask God to show them what you're seeing.
I WILL STATEMENT:
I will identify one specific assignment God has placed on my heart and take one concrete step toward it this week.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the people in my life who saw something in me before I could see it myself. Give me eyes to see others the way You see them—not just who they are right now, but who they're becoming. Make me brave enough to speak life and potential into people who need to hear it. Use my words to call out what You've placed inside them. Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:
Share your prayer request and pray for others.